_J. & E. Gould del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
MALURUS BROWNII, _Vig. & Horsf._
Brown’s Wren.
_Malurus Brownii_, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 223.
_Malurus cruentatus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 143.
Among the species of which I sent home characters from New South Wales,
for publication in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, was the
present pretty bird, to which I gave the specific name of _cruentatus_;
upon comparison, however, of my specimens with the _Malurus Brownii_ in
the Linnean Society’s Collection, I find they are identical,
consequently my name must sink into a synonym. Mr. Brown, who was the
donor of the Linnean Society’s specimen, obtained his bird near Broad
Sound, on the eastern coast; while those from which my description was
taken were procured on the north-west, and formed part of the collection
placed at my disposal by the officers of the Beagle. It differs from
_Malurus melanocephalus_ in the more intense and deep blood-red of the
back, and, as Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield justly observe, it is much
less in size.
Of its habits and economy, or the situations to which it gives
preference, no information has yet been obtained; but we may reasonably
suppose, that two species so nearly resembling each other in structure
and colour as _M. Brownii_ and _M. melanocephalus_ do not greatly differ
in their habits.
I have lately received an account of its being common at Port Essington;
and, as I have above stated, it is an inhabitant of the eastern and
north-western coasts; we may consequently conclude that its range
extends over the whole of the northern parts of the Australian
continent.
The male in summer has the head, neck, wings, all the under surface and
tail black; primaries and secondaries brown; back and shoulders fine
crimson; bill black; legs fleshy brown.
The female is uniform light brown, the abdomen inclining to white; bill
and feet light brown.
The Plate represents a male and female, on the _Bæckia linifolia_.
[Illustration: